THANJAVUR: Skaters from various schools in Thanjavur have been selected to represent the Tamil Nadu Roller Hockey team at the 48th national meet to be conducted by the Roller Skating Federation of India in Visakhapattinam, Andhra Pradesh from January 6 to January 11, 2011.

The selection follows Thanjavur skating team winning the state champions in sub-junior girls and junior boys categories, and runners up in the sub-junior boys category in the recently held state meet in Chennai. The team is leaving on December 28 with coach S.Raju, said a release from the Roller Skating Hockey team, Thanjavur.

victorious: S.S.Palani Manickam, Union Minister of State for Finance, giving away the trophy to Thanjavur junior hockey club team in Thanjavur on Sunday.

THANJAVUR: The Annai Sathya Stadium in Thanjavur will be improved to national standards, said S.S.Palani Manickam, Union Minister of State for Finance, here on Sunday.

Distributing the prizes at the 16th year Ma.Vee.Sundara Wodayar Memory Hockey Tournament held at the stadium, he said victory or defeat in the games should be taken in the right spirit.

Those who emerged victorious are to be appreciated. But those who came as runners should strive to win in the next event, he said.

Thanjavur Junion Hockey Club came as winner in the tournament.

Palani Manickam gave the trophy to the team. Sivakumar Memorial Hockey Club came as runners. The score was 3:2.

Fourteen teams from all over the state participated in the tournament which was inaugurated in the morning by T.R.Jayaraman, advocate. V.S.Ramalingam, senior advocate, and Sembiyan, organiser of the event, participated.

THANJAVUR: The Potential Linked Credit Plan prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for Thanjavur district for 2011-12 envisages a credit flow of Rs. 1,731.53 crore.

"This assessment has been made taking into account the developments last year and the infrastructure created and likely to be created," said S. T. Ravikumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, here on Tuesday.

Crop production sector has a major share of the estimate forming 52 per cent at Rs. 900 crore. Term loan under agriculture is assessed at Rs. 287.81 crore accounting for 17 per cent.

Under non farm sector, Rs.193.71 crore has been assessed as potential forming 11 per cent and balance of Rs. 350 crore estimated for other sectors.

"The PLP projection for 2011-12 is higher by Rs. 321.49 crore compared to the PLP for 2010-11 registering an increase of 22.80 per cent,” Mr. Ravi Kumar said.

The PLCP stated that the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) that is now called Rajarajan 1000 method of paddy cultivation, is picking up. With the SRI techniques, yields have shown 40 to 60 per cent improvement over the conventional practice.

The plan suggested encouraging water saving techniques like drip and sprinkler systems among farmers. To overcome labour shortage, awareness of farm equipment should be created among farmers.

There is a need to encourage pisciculture in the district. Fisheries Department should give focus to increase quality fish seed and fish production capacity.

There is a definite need for improvement in passenger amenities at the Thanjavur Railway Junction. Though there are five platforms, only three platforms – platforms number three, four and five - are used now. Platforms one and two, which had the meter gauge lines have to be improved to accommodate broad gauge (BG) trains.

People feel that the two platforms should also be put to use after upgrading them into BG platforms.

After gauge conversion, nearly 20 express trains would cross Thanjavur up and down. There are umpteen number of passenger trains that cross the junction or start from the junction. Platforms and passenger amenities are inadequate to deal with the number of trains and passengers.

Many trains have to be stopped at the outer of the station before they reach the junction for want of platforms. Even with platforms that are in use roofing is inadequate.

There are not enough benches to sit and people are forced to sit on floors. Padmanabhan, Vice-President of Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there are three ticket counters in the main building of the station. “Out of this one should be earmarked for aged and handicapped people and for women”, he said.

He also suggested allowing the use of credit cards. He also said berth tickets are not necessary in the day time Cholan express. Seating fare alone should be collected in this train. Battery cars can be used for the benefit of old people in the platforms, he added.

‘Valar Thamizh Vanoli'-Tamil University's FM radio will start its broadcast from January 15.

M.S.Shanmugham, Collector, formally launched the channel during the Pongal and Tamil New Year Celebrations held at the University here on Thursday, in the presence of M.Rajendran, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil University.

The Collector said radio can contribute to the growth of chaste Tamil by its services. While private radios and television channels help in propagating the language, chaste Tamil is not given prominence.

Vijaya Thiruvenkadam, former station director of AIR, Chennai, said Chennai AIR was the first to coin the word ‘Panbalai' in Tamil for Frequency Modulation. Tamil University FM Radio can be heard around a radius of 25 km.

Raja Reddy, General Manager, BSNL, inaugurated the Optical Fibre Connectivity given to the University under the National Knowledge Node which has been created by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development to link various Universities in a network to enable them gain knowledge from each other .

Gopalakrishnan, Regional Manager, Bank of India, distributed education loans to the tune of Rs.21 lakh to students of Tamil University. He said the Bank has introduced a student card called ‘Bingo' for the benefit of students.

Lyricist N.Muthukumar said Tamil students need not worry about their employability as the language will help them throughout their lives. Media proliferation has opened up lot of opportunities for Tamil students. However, those who study Tamil should do it thoroughly and become an expert. S.Sankaravadivelu, former Indian Forest Service Officer, A.Sargunan, film director also spoke.

Animal Husbandry and Fisheries department plays an important role in helping the agriculture sector to attain a growth rate of four per cent said R.Prabakaran, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), here on Wednesday.

....

A fisheries college will be started soon in Thanjavur as inland fishing is catching up in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

A proposal to this effect has been sent to the government. The University is also offering new courses like B.Tech in poultry production and M.Tech in food processing.

Pongal would be celebrated as Livestock and Fisheries Celebration week by the University and its various institutes in the State.

Apeal to Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee to take up work for new railway line between Thanjavur and Ariyalur.

The Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Society here has appealed to Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee to take up work for new railway line between Thanjavur and Ariyalur.

Cent per cent private participation has been assured by Karaikal port and some cement factories for this project, and the government has to announce this in this railway budget and start work this year, said R. J. B. Ferederick, Chairman of the Society in a memorandum sent to the Union Railway Minister.

Nice to see a seperate thread for one of the upcoming cities in TN .
will a seperate thread be created for thanjavur cityscapes in indian cityscape forum as there is no dearth for photos of in and around thanjavur ?

Though a little old news, still will help us track the development projects in and around the Thanjavur town.

Thanjavur will soon get a full ring road around it connecting all the roads around the town.

The road to be laid at a cost of Rs.14.41 crore will compete the full circle of ring road around Thanjavur, which currently has a semi-circular ring road covering a distance of about 17 km. Soon, the other half will be completed covering a distance of 14 km.

According to M.S. Shanmugham, Collector, land acquisition for completing the other half of the ring road was currently under way. The acquisition will be completed in three months and road laid after that.

The semi-circular road around the town is now connecting Tiruchi, Pattukottai, Mannargudi, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam and Thiruvaiyaru roads.

The road was laid during the World Tamil conference held in Thanjavur in 1995. Since then there has been a demand from people to complete the other half also. The demand will be fulfilled now.

The second half of the road, for which land acquisition is going on, will start from Pillaiyarpatti and link Neelagiri Thottam, Vannarapettai, Ramanathapuram, Sakkarasamandham, Velur, Rajendhiram and end at Manakarambai.

Meanwhile, work on the four-lane national highway from Tiruchi to Thanjavur is nearing completion. People of Thanjavur have been demanding that the four-lane highway be extended up to Nagapattinam.

There have also been demands for a new railway line between Thanjavur and Ariyalur. As cent per cent private participation for this project has been assured by Karaikal port and cement factories, it should be expedited, local residents say.

Recently Alakkudi Railway station (TJ-TPJ) route has been upgraded and can be used for crossings. This will significantly reduce the travel time betw TJ and TPJ.
Most of the times, the trains were stopped at budalur causing inordinate delays. TJ people should aggressively push for doubling TJ-TPJ since this line has the potential to run DEMUs every 15 -30 mins

Thanjavur has been the cradle of arts for India across several centuries. Be it painting, music, dance, drama, crafts and cuisine, Thanjavur has exemplified the best, and perfected the art of fine living.

‘Thanjavur - A Cultural History’ is a book authored by Pradeep Chakravarthy with photos by Vikram Sathyanathan that deals with the cultural contributions of Thanjavur from the Chola period to the present. The book in 220 pages with 174 photographs (many of them archival and never printed before) and five maps traces not only the cultural history but looks at the treasures of the Sarasvati Mahal Library, one of the world's most unique libraries that has books ranging from subjects such as philosophy, architecture, literature to medicine, floriculture, magic and water divining. The book also has a detailed analysis of the origin of several streets in Thanjavur, its photographers, coins of its rulers and rare recipes from the 18th century.

Published by Niyogi Books (http://www.niyogibooks.com) the book was recently launched in Chennai. Copies can be purchased (Rs.1250/-) from major bookstores and online book dealers. Call Ramu 9884339345 for more information.

Thanjavur, Jan. 21: Union forests and environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday inaugurated the five-day Thyagaraja Aradhana festival at Thiruvayaru in Thanjavur district.
Inaugurating the event, Mr Ramesh lauded Thyagaraja for his rich contribution to music. The minister noted that even after two centuries the name of the saint-composer continues to resonate in the world of music. He also lauded Nagarathnamma from Bengaluru, an ardent devotee of Thyagaraja who managed to unify various organisations that were holding the Aradhana festival in Thiruvaiyaru and adjoining villages.
“It was due to Nagarathnamma’s efforts in 1920 that the Thayagaraj Aradhana festival turned into a grand event to pay tribute the saint-composer,” Mr Ramesh said, adding that he was visiting Tiruvayarau as a music lover rather than a politician. He said he enjoyed the concert by noted singer Unni Krishnan organised as part of the inaugural celebrations.
Earlier Union shipping minister G.K. Vasan, who is also chairman of the board of trustees of Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha that now organises the Aradhana festival, opened a newly constructed memorial to Thyagaraja on Thirumanjana Street.
The ancestral house in which the saint lived was maintained by the sabha for several years. Since the house was in a dilapidated condition, the sabha decided to demolish it and reconstruct the building. It now houses a mini-library of books on Thyagaraja and Carnatic music and has facilities for visitors to listen to kritis and meditate in the house.
The entire town of Thiruvayarau wore a festive look as divine music reverberated from the banks of the Cauvery on Friday.

CHENNAI: Call it lack of interest coupled with apathy, the graduates and teachers in Tamil Nadu seem reluctant to enrol themselves in the Legislative Council (LC) electoral rolls. Chennai which boasts highly educated residents stands a lowly third after Madurai and Thanjavur in terms of number of enrolments, according to the final figures of the total electorate in graduates constituencies released by the state election office. In teachers constituency, however, Chennai tops the list with 8,561 teachers.

Madurai district tops the list with highest number of over 50,000 graduates enrolled, followed by Thanjavur with more than 43,000 graduates and then Chennai with only 39,144 graduates.

Madurai and Thanjavur again top the list with 20,796 and 18,125 female graduates respectively registering themselves in the LC voter's list. Again, Chennai stands third with a total of 15,510 female voters registered.

"Around two lakh candidates graduate every year in Tamil Nadu", said vice-chairman of Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education Prof A Ramasamy. He said there are about 1,400 colleges across the state which includes arts, science, engineering, medical, B.Ed and physical education.

Chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar further added that as per the 2001 census, there are about 13 lakh graduates in the state. When asked if the EC could have wooed graduate voters with a door-to-door visit for the voter's list, he said such registration could be done only when the percentage of voters is high, like for the assembly polls. "We have given enough advertisements and time in each and every district of the state asking the people to enroll themselves", he said adding perhaps people may not know about the importance of Legislative Council polls. "It is also a lack of awareness among youngsters about this election", he said.

Nilgiris and Ariyalur districts registered the least number of 4146 and 6,864 graduates respectively enrolling themselves in the LC voter's list. In the teachers constituency, Chennai tops the list with 8,561 teachers registered in the voters lists. Out of the total 32 districts in Tamil Nadu, female teachers outnumber men in 17 districts. Here again, Chennai is on the top of the list. In Chennai 5,958 female teachers got enrolled as against 2,603 male teachers in the same area. Least number of teachers were registered in Ariyalur (1,216) and Nagapattinam (1,219)

it is a little old news but help us to know development works in Thanjavur

THANJAVUR: Thanjavur Air Force Station may start functioning as a major air base by 2012, said Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force here on Tuesday.

“Construction work both technical and infrastructure is currently in progress .

We foresee most of the things to be in place by 2012 and certainly we may have major operations from here,” he told ‘The Hindu'.

The runway is expanded now in the station. The plan is to increase the length of the runway to make it capable for major operations, said Air Marshal Mukerji. The base will be developed to handle not only fighter and transport aircrafts but also refuelling aircrafts. Asked about the type of fighter aircrafts that will be operated from here, Air Marshal Mukerji said it will be decided by Air Force high command. It may be the new Light Combat Aircraft or Mirage aircraft. Final basing of aircrafts will be decided by high command only, he said.

To a query on a domestic airport at Thanjavur, he said that Indian Air Force is working with Airports Authority of India with respect to civil aviation.

Air Marshal Mukerji, accompanied by Mrs. Nandita Mukerji, President, Air Force Wives' Welfare Association (regional), is on a two-day inspection visit to Thanjavur Air Force station. He will be visiting units, sections and important works sites besides reviewing a presentation by the station covering operational tasks, commitments, maintenance activities and administration. He inaugurated the newly constructed officer's mess and senior Non-Commissioned Officers' mess .

Ms. Nandita Mukerji will visit station medicare centre and Air Force school on Wednesday. She will interact with the members of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (local) and review various welfare measures adopted at Air Force station, Thanjavur.

On his arrival at the Air Force station, Mr. Mukerji was received by Group Captain Sushil Gera, Thanjavur Air Force Station Commander. He was given a guard of honour.

THANJAVUR: Trees are marring the efforts of officials in expanding the runway at the Thanjavur Air Force station, which is going to become a major air base by 2012.

Air Force officials have sought co-operation from the forest department. “There is a procedure for cutting the trees. The forest department has to number them and then auctioning will take place. If department officials cooperate with us, our work will become easier . Expansion of runway can also be expedited,” said Group Captain Sushil Gera, Thanjavur Air Force Station Commander.

Besides, acquisition of land belonging to villagers around the Air Force Station is putting a spanner in the work. As the air base needs a large tracts of land for planes to take off, fly around and landing, lands around the station need to be attached. Though lands of some villagers have been occupied and compensation given, lands of Inathukanpatti village near the station is yet to be attached .

Air Force officials sought cooperation of Inathukanpatti villagers . “Villagers should co-operate as this is a service to the nation. Thanjavur station will become a major air base and all kinds of aircrafts will be based here and operated. This is for the defence of the nation,” Gera said. Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji, Air Officer, Commanding-in-chief, Indian Air Force, hinted that the station might be a major air base by 2012.

THANJAVUR: The district will soon get a new Collectorate building in the town. The state government has issued orders for the construction of the building at a cost of Rs. 12 crore, of which a sum of Rs. 6 crore has been released.

The new building will come up on 13.76 acres of land near the Kundavai Nachiyar Government Arts College for Women and Government ITI building.

Later, Mr. Palani Manickam told presspersons that it has been decided by the government to construct a new building for administrative convenience. Old building has become inadequate to accommodate all departments. The new one will be a modern building with all facilities. Location also will be very convenient to people as it is the heart of the town and as it is near New Bus Stand.

Deputy Chief Minister M. K. Stalin will soon lay the foundation stone for the construction of the building. The Minister also assured those who stay in houses in the site will be given proper replacement.

The present Collectorate building in the town is more than a century old.

The old building may be used for courts after the collectorate is shifted to the new building. “Courts need additional buildings. But the use of the old building after shifting will be decided on the advice of Revenue Department,” the Minister said.